I bet these chimps could easily get into Cal!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/12/03/chimp.memory.ap/index.html#cnnSTCOther1

holy cow.

This chimp not only has memorized symbols for numbers, but has done so in order. It has also somehow processed the concept of numerical hierarchy, since it can pick numbers in order even when the numbers are not consecutive. And to top it all off, the chimp is doing so really, really fast and accurately. Faster than I can do it, and certainly faster than a cal kid :)

Apparently, however, this isn't the remarkable part, according to the article. The key experiment showed how the chimp can pick the right sequence of numbers (remember, they have gaps) while the numbers are covered up, and it's only seen the numbers for 2 tenths of a second. Its success rate is 80%, while smart college kids get 20%.

So how does the article explain the chimp's dominance in this test? The evolutionary theory says that as humans evolved, they shunted more brain functions to language development and usage from other tasks, like rapid processing and acute short-term memory. Oh, by the way, the chimp also outperformed on longer memory tasks (say, the letters were covered up for 10 seconds and then the chimp picked the numbers off). This would not seem to support the theory that we learn language through simply generic learning mechanisms - the scientists appear to claim that specific language mechanisms are draining brainpower and cannot be utilized for other functions.

I still think the coolest thing here is that the chimp is conceptualizing sequences. Memorizing symbols is one thing, but putting them in some mental array and then realizing that 5 comes after 2, even though they aren't next to each other (therefore there is no mnemonic for 5 from 2) is incredible. I once thought that sequencing would be only understandable through language, but this disproves it (the chimp doesn't know the language terms that go along with explaining numbers).

he's soo fast...it's scary